Shimla, July 12 -- The Himachal Pradesh government has initiated formalities to declare Bara Bhangal, a remote tribal region in Kangra district, as a "natural farming panchayat" to promote chemical-free crop production, as state pushes to become India's natural farming leader.

This comes days after chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's two-day visit to the isolated valley.

The move also follows the declaration of Pangi as the Himachal's first natural farming subdivision. Sukhu had announced the decision on April 15, 2025 during Himachal Day function. The government has, since, strictly restricted the import, sale and distribution of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in the subdivision.

"By promoting zero budget natural farming, the...